Editorials

In the wake of the devastating deluge that washed away much of northern Colorado's tourism business, the state tourism office enlisted some unlikely allies in the fight to lure lost visitors.

A plea from tourism director Al White harvested a dozen videos from his counterparts in other states, each urging a visit to Colorado. He compiled the clips into a two-minute video featuring the improbable cheerleaders of Colorado tourism.

"They've had some recent bad times, but there still is a lot to see and do in Colorado. You might want to book a flight," said Utah tourism chief Vicki Varela.

While almost every director made sure to note their home state's appeal, they ranked Colorado an easy second-place choice.

A man stands near the mouth of the Big Thompson Canyon. U.S. 34 was heavily damaged by floodwaters from the Big Thompson River. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)

"My favorite place to travel is the state of Illinois, but right now, the destination that is on my mind is the state of Colorado," said Jennifer Hoelzle of the Illinois Office of Tourism.

"Take a vacation, and have that support Colorado," said Florida tourism chief Will Seccombe, who spent almost two decades championing Colorado tourism before moving south.

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